My first ride with Susan Ann this season was in early December -- about a week before I was scheduled to start chemotherapy for my leukemia. I was diagnosed in 2005 at the age of 45, and while I knew that I'd need treatment sooner or later, those 5+ years sure did fly by! But I was having some health problems, and it was clearly time to take action. Over the past 6 months, I've endured 6 rounds of a three drug cocktail known as FCR, not to mention the various antibiotics, antivirals, anti-nauseas, steroids, and NSAIDs that I also received to make the chemo more bearable and reduce the risk of complications.

Chemo certainly wasn't fun, but I consider myself blessed that it went as well as it did. In a few weeks, I'll find out if I'm in remission. Later this year, I'll start on another chemo drug, Revlimid, as part of a clinical trial led an Ohio State research scientist who is funded in part by the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. The hope is that adding another drug for 6 more months will deepen my remission, and extend its duration.

While I feel just fine right now, I can't help but think that I'm living on borrowed time. I'd like to borrow some more. I know that this will require new drugs that will work once I become refractory to the current ones -- or perhaps drugs that will cure the disease once and for all. Developing and testing new therapies costs a lot of money though. I'm tremendously thankful for the contributions that the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society are making to fund research, and particularly to people like Susan Ann who commit so much time and energy to helping raise money. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for supporting her, which is also supporting me.

Things aren’t always as they seem. If you look over at the fundraising gauge on the right, it looks like only $3025 or 50% of the funds needed to reach my goal of $6000 has been raised. In actuality, donations of $4436 have been received which means I'm at about 75%. So, why don't you see it? Since, I'm doing doing TWO events, the Princess Half Marathon and the Tahoe Century Ride, two accounts were created; thus your contributions are divided between the two accounts! The good news...it all goes to the SAME place!!!!

But, to give credit where credit is due, please take a look at the donors/amounts in the little box above that appears on the “hidden” website.

So, now, with just over $1500 that needs to be raised by June 25, please dig deep into your hearts so that we can not only reach that $6000 goal...but EXCEED it! No donation is too small...EVERY dollar counts! LET'S FUND THE CURE AND STOP CANCER FROM DESTROYING MORE LIVES!

Thanks in advance for sharing my website: http://pages.teamintraining.org/va/dipihalf11/sglass

To read the full story about why I am doing this, click on the "HOME" or 'FRIENDS DON'T ..." LINKS at the top of the page. While you're here, take a look at some of the TEAM that is riding to save lives...one mile at a time! GO TEAM!

Dear Family and Friends,

The three individuals on this web page are my friends. Besides wearing the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's [LLS] Team in Training [TNT] shirts and completing multiple TNT events, they have something else in common. CANCER! The two men, Ed and Paul, seen with me, are currently in the fight for their lives; Robin, is dealing with what cancer can do.

• First, fellow TNT triathlete, ROBIN YODER's leg was amputated on August 5, 2010 resulting from a secondary bone cancer caused by radiation she received 30 years ago to successfuly combat another form of bone cancer in her leg. I ran the Disney's Princess Half Marathon in Walt Disney World on February 27 to honor Robin. Running this 13.1 mile race was significant since she and I both fundraised, trained for, and completed that distance at the Augusta Half Ironman 70.3 for TNT in September 2009. Then, on April 2, 2011, along with about 30 of her friends and family, I joined Robin as she walked the entire 6.2 mile distance of the Monument Avenue 10K with her new prosthesis! If you want to learn more about Robin, click here!

• Second, fellow TNT cyclist--a member of our Tucson AND current Fletcher Flyer Century Cycling Teams--PAUL ZAMECNIK, is now actively battling Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia [CLL]. Paul's CLL was diagnosed 6 years ago, but until October, he had no symptoms. He was forced to miss the Tucson ride that he'd trained and raised funds for in November. All that has changed. Now, in the midst of chemotherapy, Paul vows to cross the finish line in Fletcher, NC now that his initial treatments have just ended for a few months and his response to them so favorable.

• Third, ED STONE, a TNT Patient Honoree, former fellow VA Board Trustee and, like me, a TNT Triple Crown recipient, is out of remission for the 5th time, again fighting melanoma, as a result of his treatment for leukemia 21 years ago. Ed, always positive with an ever-present smile, is working with incredible determination to rehabilitate his right leg so that he can once again return to normal activity and sports. Read Ed's courageous story here.

In their honor, I've returned as a fundraising member of the TEAM and plan to complete TWO endurance events for Team In Training in 2011.

I am now also currently coaching/training in Paul and Ed's honor and will show my support by completing America's Most Beautiful 100-Mile Bike Ride at Lake Tahoe on June 5.

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For ROBIN, ED and PAUL...and all individuals who are battling cancer...especially blood cancers, I am attempting to raise

at least $6,000

for TEAM IN TRAINING.

I know times are tough right now, but I hope you will find it in your heart to make

a 100% tax-deductible donation

of $25, $50, $100 or more if you can to support my participation in

Team In Training and help advance LLS's mission.

It's easy! Just click on the DONATE NOW button on the upper right of this web page to receive an immediate emailed receipt for your records or, if you prefer,

send a check made out to LLS to:

11400 Ivy Home Place, Richmond, VA 23233

If your company has MATCHING GIFTS, please take advantage of this to make your donation go further! Just let me know so I can send you the necessary forms.

There is still so much to be done to advance the mission of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society to find the cures, not only for blood cancer, but for all cancers.

• LLS is striving to improve the safety of today's cures.
• While LLS is finding more and more effective treatments that are producing remarkable survival rates – many of the harsh treatments today cause long-term negative effects - some as chronic conditions that affect quality of life.
• Others, for people like Robin and Ed which might occur years later, are life threatening.

To address these quality-of-life issues, in addition to supporting development of new safe and effective treatments, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society has begun investing in research aimed at reducing long-term and late effects that might result from today’s cancer treatments.

• Along with research in these areas, LLS is seeking to fund investigations that address brain, kidney, infertility and secondary cancers, as these also threaten quality of life for patients who survive cancer.
• LLS seeks to increase funding for this research by at least $5 million over the next three years.

Wouldn't you like to be a part of this?

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I hope that you will support my participation in Team in Training and take a moment to make a donation to the LEUKEMIA & LYMPHOMA SOCIETY.

Please forward this email to as many people as you can to encourage them to donate as well. Perhaps, you might like to bookmark my web site so you may view my progress and read updates about Robin, Ed and Paul.

Thanks again.

http://pages.teamintraining.org/va/dipihalf11/sglass

God Bless You...

Susan Ann xo

Every 4 minutes, someone is diagnosed with a blood cancer.

Every 10 minutes, someone dies from a blood cancer.

MAKE A DIFFERENCE...

Please donate now...thank you!